January 2006 Archives

Where is God when disaster strikes?

January 26, 2006

Avrel Seale, a friend in Austin who writes for the UT alumni magazine, recently submitted an excellent article to the Austin American Statesman, Where is God when disaster strikes?. This makes me think first of the continuing low-level warfare and terrorism occurring in Darfur, as well as the little-noticed famine currently afflicting the people of Malawi. Avrel writes "[t]here is little doubt that, in general, disasters bring out the best in human nature." Thankfully there are ways for Americans to doing something about these two:

  • Join the Million Voices for Darfur campaign, which seeks a stronger response on Darfur from the American government;
  • Support groups like Doctors Without Borders doing relief work in both countries;
  • Donate to groups supplying food aid to the people of Malawi. The United Religions Initiative (URI) is now accepting donations through their website, destined for distribution by local URI chapters inside the country. Another favorite of mine is the UN World Food Program.

Avrel writes, "Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, while writing in the voice of God, said: 'My calamity is my providence, outwardly it is fire and vengeance , but inwardly it is light and mercy.'" Working with organizations such as these is a tremendous means of reflecting that inward light back to the rest of humanity.

Judaic Mythology

January 15, 2006

I was recently watching a show on PBS wherein the narrator was traveling the lands of ancient Canaan, illustrating the paths of Abraham in the book of Genesis. At one point he and his guide climbed a slope next to the Dead Sea, and, having entered a tunnel in the cliff-side, found themselves staring up an immense shaft blasted by salt. Due to a confluence of geographic and climactic factors, the pressure from the Sea will often push great fountains of salt up from the seabed through this shaft, and thence cover the plains above the cliff.

inVINCEable

January 5, 2006

image_2113354.jpg

(apologies to the Austin American Statesman for borrowing their photo for non-commercial purposes)

I wasn't there (Austin or LA) to see it, but the team I've been rooting for since I was an infant finally won its first national championship of my life, and won it in style. The Statesman has a great photo gallery. Vince Young - you got heart.

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